Mechani-Kon puts spotlight on tabletop board games

Gaming convention not exactly conventional

The player who wins second place at Mechani-Kon gets an autographed picture of Alex Bedard (left) and Thurston Hillman as a gag. Hillman said it’s a highly sought-after prize. (SUPPLIED PHOTO) Photo Store

Move over, video games: it’s tabletop gaming’s time to shine — for a day, at least.On Oct. 26, Mechani-Kon will take over the Robert A. Steen Community Centre (980 Palmerston Ave.) from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mechani-Kon is a local gaming event dedicated to tabletop board games Warhammer 40K and Warmachine. Registration to participate is officially closed, but the event’s organizers encourage the public to come out and watch the tournaments.

"We have four games during the day," Mechani-Kon co-organizer Thurston Hillman said.Hillman anticipates 40 people will be playing at the event. Usually Warhammer 40K draws a larger crowd of around 32 people while Warmachine attracts a smaller group of around six to eight.

Hillman co-created Mechani-Kon with friend and fellow organizer Alex Bedard. With about a decade of gaming experience, Hillman’s gaming repertoire consists of but is not limited to Magic: The Gathering, Battletech, and Warmachine.

"Warhammer 40K is basically a simulation-style game where players use plastic or metal miniatures," Hillman said.

Players bring their own armies of miniatures that they’ve assembled and painted. With their miniatures, a tape measure, and dice, players engage in battle.

While video games continue to gain popularity over other forms of gaming, Hillman said they aren’t a threat to tabletop games, because video games can often be isolating while tabletop games are more social.

"At its core, it’s a social sort of thing where people are rolling dice and being together," Hillman explained. "Usually these things take up a four-by-six feet area."

While Mechani-Kon is not accepting any more players, those interested in attending anyway can still play board games. JimCon, a board game convention in Winnipeg, is providing regular board games for spectators and the families and friends of players.

For more information about Mechani-Kon, visit mechani-kon.com or email the organizers at info@mechani-kon.com

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